Aeration detector



Oct. 18, 1960 L. B. CULLEY AERATION DETECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 mvmon. LEE B. CULLEY A TTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1960 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 L. B. CULLEY.

AERATION DETECTOR 2 Sheets-Shoot z l2 T I 13 W 2 I 4 INVENTOR.

LEE B. CULLEY ATTORNEYS United States atent Ofiice Patented Oct. 18, 1960 AERATION DETECTOR Lee B. Culley, 404 SE. 202nd St., Portland, Oreg. Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,036

Claims. (Cl. 200-84) The present invention relates to air detectors for sensing the presence of air within cooling systems of engines and the like.

It has been found that the presence of air in the cooling system of engines speeds up electrolytic action causing deterioration in the metal surfaces of the engine with which aerated water comes in contact.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an air detector for sensing the presence of air in the cooling system and for actuating an alarm to warn the driver of the aerated condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air detector of the class described above having means for rendering the engine inoperative until the aeration condition is corrected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air detector of the class described above which will indicate air entrained in the water in situations where the Water level is normal or above and when the water level is lower than normal.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a water cooling radiator with the invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the air detector re moved from the cooling system;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective detail of the upper portion of the radiator shown partially broken away and in section, illustrating the connection of the detector thereto;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the float arm; and

Figure 9 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the circuits used with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, an air detector unit indicated generally at A is constructed in accordance with the innvention.

The air detector unit A is illustrated in Figure 1 as attached to a radiator 10 of the type used on internal combustion engines and of a conventional construction. A water pump 11 is normally associated with the cooling radiator 10.

As can be seen in Figure 7, the radiator 10 includes a generally horizontal baflle plate 12 spaced above the up per ends of the upright cooling tubes 13 and extending completely across the radiator 10. An opening 14 in the baflle plate 12 allows water to pass between the tubes 13 and the top of the radiator 10. The baflie plate 12 is elfective in preventing the surging of water in the radiator while making turns and when the water level becomes low. The baflie plate 12 also prevents the loss of water out of the overflow of the radiator due to water pump pressure.

In the normal operation of the cooling system, the water pump 11 pumps water from the radiator 10 through the fitting 15 and out through the hose 16 to the engine (not shown) and back into the upper part of the radiator 10 through the upper hose 17. The hole 14 in the baffle plate 12 allows the water to communicate back and forth above and below the plate 12, and at the same time allows air to escape to the upper part of the radiator 10.

The radiator 10, pump 11 and the couplings therebetween described above are all of a conventional nature and form no part of the present invention.

The air detector unit A used wtih the radiator 10 includes a hollow housing H which includes a pair of compartrnents 18 and 19. The compartment 18 houses a float assembly, generally indicated at 20, and the compartment 19 houses an electric contact switch, generally indicated at 21.

The float assembly 20 includes an elongated generally cylindrical float 22 mounted in one end of an arm 23. The arm 23 is mounted on a shaft 24 having an end portion 24A bent at right angles to the remaining portion thereof. A spring clip 25 on the arm 23 engages the portion 24A of the shaft 24 and secures the arm 23 thereto. The shaft 24 is journalled in a bearing 26 threaded into a boss 27 forming part of a partition wall 28 separating the compartments 18 and 19. The bearing 26 engages a sealing O-ring 29 at its inner end to seal the bearing 26 and shaft 24 to the boss 27 to prevent air and water leakage therearound. A seal 30 is countersunk into the opposite end of the bearing 26 in engagement with the shaft 24 and is secured in sealing relation thereto by means of a cap nut 31 threaded onto the bearing 26 and engaging the washer 32. A lock nut 33 is also threaded on the bearing 26 for locking engagement with the cap nut 31 to prevent loosening thereof.

In the assembly of the unit grease is applied to the shaft 24 within the bearing 26 between the seal 29 and the seal 30 to insure lubrication of the shaft 24 and providing additional air and water seals along the shaft 24.

A cam 35 is rigidly secured to the end 34 of the shaft 24 and serves to lock the shaft 24 in its position in the bearing 26. A switch lever 36 extending from the switch 21 engages the cam 35 so as to actuate the switch 21 upon rotation of the shaft 24.

A cover 37 is secured to the housing H in engagement with the partition wall 28 by a pair of cap screws 38 extending therethrough. A generally rectangular cover plate 40 has the housing H secured thereto by a plurality of bolts 39. A seal S is positioned between the housing H and the cover plate 40 to maintain the compartment 18 in water-tight sealed condition. Access to the compartment 18 can be gained by removing the screws 39 so that the housing H can be moved away from the plate 40.

A hose 41, in Figure 1, extends from the top of the radiator 10 from a point below the baflie plate 12 and above the upper ends of the tubes 13 adjacent the opening 14. The hose 41 is connected to the housing H through a port 42 so as to communicate with the chamber 18.

The housing H has an outlet port 43 formed therein communicating with the chamber 18. A hose 44 exr 3 tends from the port 43 to the suction side of the pump 11 to cause a flow of fluid through the chamber 18 when the upper end of the hose 41 is able to obtain a supply of fluid from the upper end of the radiator 10. I

In Figure 9 the float 22 is illustrated in its raised positionwith the cam 35 rotated to raise the switchbar 36 so as to raise a spring switch bar 45 within the switch 21 into electric contact with the contact pointed. Electric energy will then flow from the battery 4-7 through conductor 48, spring switch bar 45, contact 46 through conductor 49 into the solenoid Si in this particular instance the solenoid 56 will maintain a fuel valve 51in open position permitting fuel to flow to the engine.

If during the operation of the engine air bubbles are entrained in the fluid and enter the chamber 18 they will collect in the upper portion thereof, permitting the float ,22 to drop breaking the circuit established through the contact arm 45 and the contact point 46 to permit the valve 51 to be closed. When the float 22 drops the contact bar 45 engages the contact point 53 establishing a circuit from the battery 4-7 through a conductor 54 to actuate the conventional signal indicator 55. In some installations the solenoid 56 would not be required and the switch 21 in such cases would merely operate the indicator signal 55. It should be understood that the control of the engine which has been illustrated as utilizing a solenoid 50 and fuel valve 51 may instead be connected into the, ignition system when desired.

In the use and operation of the invention, when ai bubbles begin to enter the cooling system they will tend to be trapped in the chamber 18 so that as the pump 11 draws water 'out of the chamber 18 the float 22 will be permitted to drop to actuate the alarm signal and motor control circuits.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood. that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the. appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An aeration detector for use in a cooling system of the type including a cooling radiator and a water pump associated therewith comprising a housing having a float chamber formed therein, means for communicating said housing to the upper portion of said radiator, means for communicating the lower portion of said housing to the suction side of said pump, a float mounted in said housing for vertical swinging movement in said float chamber, an alarm switch mounted on said housing and cam means rotated by said float for actuating said switch.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said float chamber provides an air trap to collect air entrained in the cooling fluid to thereby displace. fluid in said float chamber and to permit said float to drop to a switch actuating position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includes an upright partition wall, a threaded hollow boss integrally formed on said partition wall, a bearing threaded into said hollow boss, a shaft journalled in said bearing, an arm mounted'on said shaft .at one end thereof and having said float secured to the other end thereof, said shaft having a right angularly extending portion integrally formed thereon and means on said arm releas ably connecting said right angularly extending portion .of said shaft to said arm.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cam is rigidly secured to said shaft at the end .of said shaft opposite said arm.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch has a pair of oppositely disposed spaced contacts, a contact arm positioned between said contacts and a switch lever pivotally mounted on said switch and extending into contact with said cam with means connecting said lever and said contact arm whereby upon rotation of said cam said contact arm alternately engages said spaced apart contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

